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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
- Sprache: Englisch
Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars Brings a powerful toolkit to bear on engineering and scientific endeavors. This book describes the fundamental principles of systems science so engineers and other scholars can put them into practical use at work and in their personal lives. Systems science aims to determine systemic similarities among different disciplines and to develop applicable solutions in many fields of inquiry. Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars readers will discover: * Ten systems science principles that open engineers' and scholars' horizons to practical insights related to their areas of interest * A methodology for designing holistic systems that exhibit resilient behavior to overcome systems' context uncertainties * The most critical current dilemma of humankind--the global environment and energy crises, as well as a systemic, no-nonsense action plan to deal with these issues * Independent articles describing how engineers and scholars can utilize systems science creatively in (1) engineering and systemic psychology; (2) delivering value and resolving conflicts; (3) multi-objective, multi-agent decision-making; (4) systems engineering using category theory; (5) holistic risk management using systems of systems failures methodology; and (6) systemic accident and mishap analysis Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars contains a broad spectrum of insights as well as an extensive set of examples and graphics that make it ideal for professionals and students interested in a holistic, systems-oriented approach.
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Cover image: The Southern Ring is a planetary nebula showing the remnants of a dying Sun-like star. The nebula, composed of gas and interstellar dust, is located some 2500 light-years from Earth and is nearly half a light-year in diameter. The bright star near the center is a companion of the dead star whose transformation has ejected the nebula’s gas and dust shells over thousands of years. The NIRCam instrument onboard NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) James Webb space telescope obtained this image in 2022 (Image: NASA).
Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars
Avner Engel
Tel Aviv University
Systems Engineering Research Initiative (TAU-SERI)
Israel
Copyright © 2024 by John Wiley & Sons Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.Published simultaneously in Canada.
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Hardback ISBN: 9781394211647
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Names: Engel, Avner (Researcher), author.
Title: Systems science for engineers and scholars / Avner Engel.
Description: Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [2024] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “This book describes the principles of systems science and how engineers, engineering students, and other scholars can put its concepts into practical use at work and in their personal life. Systems science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the foundation of systems in nature and society. It claims that the universe is composed of systems or systems of systems, all of which possess common intrinsic attributes.”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2023045491 (print) | LCCN 2023045492 (ebook) | ISBN 9781394211647 (hardback) | ISBN 9781394211654 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781394211661 (epub) | ISBN 9781394211678
Subjects: LCSH: System theory. | Systems engineering.
Classification: LCC Q295 .E534 2024 (print) | LCC Q295 (ebook) | DDC 003—dc23/eng/20231025
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023045491
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023045492
Cover design: Wiley
Credit: © NASA and STScI (public domain)
To my wife Rachel and sons Ofer, Amir, Jonathan, and Michael.
“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
—Albert Einstein
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I Facets of Systems Science and Engineering
1 Introduction to Systems Science
1.1 Foreword
1.2 Critical Humanity Challenge
1.3 Systems Science in Brief
1.4 Early Systems Pioneers
1.5 Recommended Books on Systems Science
1.6 Systems Science: Criticisms and Responses
1.7 Bibliography
2 Principles of Systems Science (Part I)
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Universal Context
2.3 Systems Boundary
2.4 Systems Hierarchy
2.5 Systems Interactions
2.6 Systems Change
2.7 Bibliography
3 Principles of Systems Science (Part II)
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Systems Input/Output
3.3 Systems’ Complexity
3.4 Systems Control
3.5 Systems Evolution
3.6 Systems Emergence
3.7 Bibliography
4 Systems Thinking
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Fundamental Concepts of Systems Thinking
4.3 The Iceberg Model of Systems Thinking
4.4 Exploring Systems Thinking as a System
4.5 Barriers to Systems Thinking
4.6 Early Systems Thinking Pioneers
4.7 Bibliography
5 Systems Engineering
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Philosophy of Engineering
5.3 Basic Systems Engineering Concepts
5.4 Systems Engineering Deficiencies
5.5 Bibliography
6 Comparative Analysis - Two Domains
6.1 Introduction
6.2 A Case for Comparison
6.3 Structure and Function of a Computer Hard Drive (CHD)
6.4 Functional Correlations between the CHD and the DHD
6.5 Conclusions
6.6 Acknowledgments
6.7 Bibliography
Part II Holistic Systems Design
7 Holistic Systems Context
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Rethinking the Context of the System
7.3 Components of Systems Context
7.4 Bibliography
8 Example: UAV System of Interest (SoI)
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Example: UAV System
8.3 Bibliography
9 Example: UAV Context (Part I)
9.1 Introduction
9.2 UAV Context: Natural Systems
9.3 UAV Context: Social Systems
9.4 UAV Context: Research Systems
9.5 UAV Context: Formation Systems
9.6 UAV Context: Sustainment Systems
9.7 UAV Context: Business Systems
9.8 UAV Context: Commercial Systems
9.9 Bibliography
10 Example: UAV Context (Part II)
10.1 Introduction
10.2 UAV Context: Financial Systems
10.3 UAV Context: Political Systems
10.4 UAV Context: Legal Systems
10.5 UAV Context: Cultural Systems
10.6 UAV Context: Biosphere Systems
10.7 Bibliography
Part III Global Environment and Energy: Crisis and Action Plan
11 Global Environment Crisis
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Climate Change
11.3 Biodiversity Loss
11.4 Bibliography
12 Systemic Environment Action Plan
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Sustaining the Earth’s Environment
12.3 Sustaining Human Society
12.4 Bibliography
13 Global Energy Crisis
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Current Global Energy Status
13.3 Energy Return on Investment (EROI)
13.4 Renewable Energy
13.5 Fossil Fuel Energy
13.6 Conventional Fission Reaction Energy
13.7 Bibliography
14 Systemic Energy Action Plan
14.1 The Global Energy Dilemma
14.2 Renewable Energy Action Plan
14.3 Fossil Fuel Energy Action Plan
14.4 Cars and Trucks Action Plan
14.5 Fission Reaction Energy Action Plan
14.6 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Action Plan
14.7 Fusion Nuclear Energy Action Plan
14.8 Bibliography
Part IV More Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars
15 Engineering and Systemic Psychology
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Schema Theory
15.3 Cognitive Biases
15.4 Systems Failures
15.5 Cognitive Debiasing
15.6 Bibliography
16 Delivering Value and Resolving Conflicts
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Delivering Systems Value
16.3 Conflict Analysis and Resolution
16.4 Bibliography
17 Multi-objective Multi-agent Decision Making
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Utility-Based Rewards
17.3 Representation of the Decision Process
17.4 Key Types of Decision Processes
17.5 Example 1: Wolves and Sheep Predation
17.6 Example 2: Cooperative Target Observation
17.7 Example 3: Seaport Logistics
17.8 Bibliography
18 Systems Engineering Using Category Theory
18.1 Introduction
18.2 The Problem of Multidisciplinary, Collaborative Design
18.3 Category Theory in Systems Engineering: A Brief Background
18.4 Example: Designing an Electric Vehicle
18.5 Category Theory (CT) as a System Specification Language
18.6 Categorical Multidisciplinary Collaborative Design (C-MCD)
18.7 The C-MCD Categories
18.8 The Categorical Design Process
18.9 Conclusion
18.10 Acknowledgment
18.11 Bibliography
19 Holistic Risk Management Using SOSF Methodology
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Limitations of Current Risk Management Practices
19.3 Features of SOSF
19.4 Top-Level SOSF Actions
19.5 Example 1: Holistic Risk Management and Failure Classes
19.6 Example 2: Synthetic SOSF Risk Management
19.7 Description of Typical ACP Systems
19.8 Conclusion
19.9 Acknowledgment
19.10 Bibliography
20 Systemic Accidents and Mishaps Analyses
20.1 Introduction to Accident Causation Models
20.2 Basic Accident, Incidents, and Mishap Concepts
20.3 Classification of Accident Causation Models
20.4 Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Process (STAMP)
20.5 Causal Analysis System Theory (CAST)
20.6 CAST Procedure
20.7 CAST Example: CH-53 Helicopters Mid-Air Collision
20.8 Bibliography
Appendix A Distinguished Systems Science Researchers
Appendix B Distinguished Systems Thinking Researchers
Appendix C Permissions to Use Third-Party Copyright Material
Appendix D List of Acronyms
Index
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
CHAPTER 1
Table 1.1
Momentous scientific discoveries.
Table 1.2
Systems science fundamental principles.
6
CHAPTER 2
Table 2.1
Exerting pressure across US government branches.
Table 2.2
Typical characteristics of objects' interactions.
10
Table 2.3
Example: Interactions between species in ecological communities.
11
CHAPTER 3
Table 3.1
Class and products of human body IO model.
Table 3.2
Fundamental types of interfaces.
CHAPTER 5
Table 5.1
Generic System Life Cycle Model (Development).
Table 5.2
Generic System Life Cycle Model (Postdevelopment).
Table 5.3
Ten widespread systems pathologies.
CHAPTER 6
Table 6.1
Low-Level Formatting Comparison.
Table 6.2
High-Level Formatting Comparison.
Table 6.3
Comparison of CHD Controller Functions and DHD Controller Functions.
CHAPTER 8
Table 8.1
UAV Internal Interactions.
Table 8.2
UAV External Interactions.
CHAPTER 9
Table 9.1
Hazardous Materials in Electrical and Electronic Systems
Table 9.2
Characteristics of the Five Drones Shown in Figure 9.8.
Table 9.3
Examples of UAV and Drone Applications.
CHAPTER 11
Table 11.1
Planetary Boundaries (as defined in 2023)
CHAPTER 13
Table 13.1
Global Energy Consumption, 2020.
CHAPTER 15
Table 15.1
Proposition Related to Strategic Decision processes.
CHAPTER 16
Table 16.1
Expansion of Value Understanding Context.
Table 16.2
Expansion of Value Characterization Context.
Table 16.3
Expansion of Value Proposition Context.
Table 16.4
Expansion of Value Realization Context.
Table 16.5
Decision-Makers, Options Priorities, and Status Quo Conflict State.
Table 16.6
Option Contradictions.
CHAPTER 17
Table 17.1
Wolves–Sheep Predation Model Nominal Parameters.
Table 17.2
Fixed Parameters for the MASON Simulator.
CHAPTER 18
Table 18.1
BEV Key Performance Attributes (KPA).
Table 18.2
The Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Types of Interfaces.
Table 18.3
Categorical Representation in the OPM Model.
Table 18.4
Categorical Representation of Power System Life Span and Operation Hours.
Table 18.5
Categorical Representation of Onboard Charger Life Span and Operation Hours.
Table 18.6
Categorical Statements of an Integrated Design Graph.
CHAPTER 19
Table 19.1
Seven Principles of Holistic Risk Management.
Table 19.2
Typical ACP Failures.
Table 19.3
Stakeholders Involved in ACP Failures.
Table 19.4
ACP Subsystems.
Table 19.5
Synthetic Failure Statistics During the Development Activities.
Table 19.6
Synthetic Failure Statistics During the Manufacturing Activities.
Table 19.7
Synthetic Failure Statistics During the Use-Maintenance Activities.
CHAPTER 20
Table 20.1
Classification of Accident Contributory Factors.
Table 20.2
Hazards and Safety Constraints.
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright page
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Begin Reading
Appendix A Distinguished Systems Science Researchers
Appendix B Distinguished Systems Thinking Researchers
Appendix C Permissions to Use Third-Party Copyright Material
Appendix D List of Acronyms
Index
Wiley End User License Agreement
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Preface
This book describes the fundamentals of systems science and how engineers, engineering students, and other scholars can put these concepts into practical use at work and in their personal lives. Systems science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the foundation of systems in nature and society. It suggests that the Universe is composed of systems or systems of systems, all of which possess common intrinsic attributes.
Along this line, systems science aims to determine systemic similarities among different disciplines (e.g., engineering, physics, biology, economics, mathematics) and to develop valuable models that apply to many fields of study. The advantage of this approach is that people, and in our case, engineers and scholars, can obtain answers to problems by studying and adopting ideas from different domains.
Engineers often seek speedy solutions to technical problems within a relatively restricted mindset. Under this ethos, engineers can be proud of many achievements throughout history. However, this book provides engineers with powerful means to enhance their professional and personal abilities by utilizing holistic and multidisciplinary elements inherent in systems science theory.
The book identifies 10 fundamental systems science principles that open engineers’ horizons to various domains from which they can conclude practical insights about their areas of interest. For example, one systems science fundamental deals with interactions between different systems. Consider an engineer who examines a particular interface within a technical system. He may embrace a holistic view in his system design by adopting biological interactions among species. Biology researchers recognize six relationship types (i.e., competition, predation, herbivory, mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism). Thus, by adopting ideas from biology, this engineer can open his design to many creative alternatives.
In brief, this book expresses complex ideas related to holistic and interdisciplinary learning in a concise and easy-to-grasp manner, with many examples and graphics. As a result, the book opens new perspectives and provides practical guidance to engineers and scholars wishing to implement systems science concepts. The book contains the following four parts:
Part 1: Facets of Systems Science and Engineering. This part starts with a preface to systems science. It defines 10 fundamental principles of systems science: universal context, boundary, hierarchy, interactions, change, input/output, complexity, control, evolution, and emergence. Multiple examples illuminate each principle. This part also describes ideas about systems thinking, the philosophy of engineering, and systems engineering. Finally, this part brings forth an analysis of an engineered versus a biological system. This analysis emanates from one of systems science’s promises to transcend individual disciplines by obtaining knowledge from well-known domains to elucidate less-known domains.
Part 2: Holistic Systems Design. This part provides fresh, holistic thinking about the system context, which is, by definition, the environment of a system of interest (SoI). Such a view recognizes that systems’ context influences SoI in wide, often unpredictable, and sometimes disastrous ways. This concept is illustrated by an extensive example of an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system of interest in its all-inclusive context. This system context includes natural systems, social systems, research systems, formation systems, sustainment systems, business systems, commercial systems, financial systems, political systems, legal systems, cultural systems, and biosphere systems. Ultimately, this part intends to motivate engineers and designers to create resilient systems that can withstand their contexts’ uncertain behavior.
Part 3: Global Environment and Energy: Crisis and Action Plan. Today, the global environmental and energy crises seem to be humankind’s most challenging, systemic predicaments. This part analyzes the environmental crisis regarding past and present global transformation and its environmental predicament. This part proceeds with a proposed systemic, no-nonsense ecological action plan to sustain the Earth’s system and human society. Similarly, the global energy crisis is analyzed, including the current global energy status, energy return on investment (EROI), and the impact of renewable energy systems. Again, this part proceeds with a no-nonsense proposed systemic energy action plan for the global energy crisis. This action plan deals with renewable, fossil, and fission energy. In addition, it describes short-term future energy options, including small modular reactors (SMR), and long-term future energy options, including nuclear fusion.
Part 4: More Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars. This part contains independent articles showing how engineers can utilize systems science creatively. This part includes (1) engineering and systemic psychology, (2) delivering value and resolving conflicts, (3) multi-objective, multi-agent decision-making, (4) systems engineering using category theory, (5) holistic risk management using systems of systems failures (SOSF) methodology, and (6) systemic accident and mishap analysis.
Acknowledgments
The author seeks to acquaint engineers and scholars with facets of systems science. To achieve this objective, the author has drawn upon his engineering experience, communicated with many people, and synthesized information from many sources such as books, articles, blogs, etc. Several researchers have provided permission to incorporate adapted portions of their writings (e.g., texts, images, and ideas) within this book. The author is deeply indebted to these people and institutions:
Dr. Ismael Rafols from the University of Sussex, England, for permission to use an image of a global science map. Also, Prof. Eberhard Umbach from the University of Osnabruck, Germany, for permission to use ideas and text on criticism of systems science (Chapter 1).
Prof. Boris Romashov and Dr. Aleksandr Mishin from Voronezhsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve in Russia for permission to use text and an image of red deer and wolves’ interactions (Chapter 2).
Dr. Louise Kjaer from the Technical University of Denmark for permission to use text and ideas on environmental input/output analysis related to corporations and products. Also, Prof. Steven Frank from the University of California at Irvine for permission to use text pertinent to input/output relations in biological systems. Also, Prof. Olivier de Weck and Dr. Kaushik Sinha from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for permission to use text related to structural complexity (Chapter 3).
The Royal Academy of Engineering, London, United Kingdom, for permission to reproduce intriguing portions of papers presented during seminars on the philosophy of engineering held at the academy in June 2010. Also, Prof. Len Troncale from California State Polytechnic University for permission to use data on recurring systems engineering human systems pathologies (Chapter 5).
Prof. David D’Onofrio from the University of Phoenix for permission to use text and ideas on comparative analysis between the structure and function of computer hard drives and DNA (Chapter 6).
Rick Adcock from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom and his colleagues for providing seed ideas on engineered system context in “Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge” (Chapter 7).
David Climenhaga, Canadian journalist and a blogger at AlbertaPolitics, for permission to use text and ideas about small modular nuclear reactors (SMR), including their advantages and disadvantages (Chapter 14).
Prof. T.K. Das of the City University of New York for permission to use text and ideas regarding cognitive biases (Chapter 15).
Dr. Anand Kumar of Tata Research Development & Design Centre, Pune, India, for permission to use text and ideas about a systematic approach to deliver value (Chapter 16).
Prof. Uri Wilensky from Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, for permission to use text, images, and the NetLogo software simulator running the wolf–sheep predation model. Also, Prof. Sean Luke from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, for permission to use text, images, and the MASON software simulator to execute the cooperative multirobot observation of multiple moving targets (CMOMMT) model. Also, Teja Pennada from Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden, for providing text and ideas regarding containers’ optimal positions in a seaport terminal yard (Chapter 17).
Dr. Yaniv Mordecai, from Tel Aviv University, Israel, for authoring the central part of Chapter 18, “Systems Engineering Using Category Theory.”
Prof. Takafumi Nakamura from Daito Bunka University, Japan, for permission to embed texts and graphics from his papers on SOSF methodology (Chapter 19).
Prof. Nancy Leveson and Joel Parker Henderson for permission to adapt ideas and images on Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) and Causal Analysis System Theory (CAST), and Baktare Kanarit and Dr. Daniel Hartmann for permission to adapt ideas and images from their presentation on the Israeli Air Force (IAF) CH-53 aviation disaster of 1997 (Chapter 20).
Prof. Len Troncale from California State Polytechnic University for permission to use ideas and text on distinguished systems science researchers (Appendix A) and systems thinking researchers (Appendix B).
Sarah Wales-McGrath, the book’s copy editor, for diligent efforts to enhance the manuscript as well as Wiley’s editors team, Brett Kurzman, Becky Cowan, Vishal Paduchuru, and Rajeev Kumar, who helped make and shape this book.
Colleagues at work, Dr. Amit Teller and Shalom Shachar, as well as founding members of the Tel-Aviv University – Systems Engineering Research Initiative (TAU-SERI): Prof. Yoram Reich, Dr. Miri Sitton, Uzi Orion, and Ami Danielli.
My wife, Rachel, and my sons, Ofer, Amir, Jonathan, and Michael, for supporting and encouraging my book efforts with advice, patience, and love.
Avner Engel
Tel Aviv, Israel
Part I Facets of Systems Science and Engineering
1 Introduction to Systems Science
1.1 Foreword
1.1.1 The Book
This book describes the fundamental principles of systems science and how engineers, engineering students, and other scholars can put its concepts into practical use at work and in their personal lives. Systems science1 is an interdisciplinary field that studies the foundation of systems in nature and society. It suggests that the universe is composed of systems or systems of systems, all of which possess common intrinsic attributes.
Along this line, systems science aims to determine systemic similarities among different disciplines (e.g., engineering, physics, biology, economics, mathematics) and to develop valuable models that apply to many fields of study. The advantage of this approach is that people, and in our case, engineers, can obtain answers to problems by studying and adopting ideas from different domains.
Engineers often seek speedy solutions to technical problems within a relatively restricted mindset. Under this ethos, engineers can be proud of many achievements throughout history. However, this book provides engineers with powerful means to enhance their professional and personal abilities by utilizing holistic and multidisciplinary elements inherent in systems science theory.
The book identifies 10 fundamental systems science principles that open engineers’ horizons to various domains from which they can conclude practical insights about their areas of interest. For example, one systems science fundamental principle deals with interactions between different systems. Consider an engineer who examines a particular interface within a technical system. He may embrace a holistic view in his system design by adopting biological interactions among species. Researchers in biology recognize six types of relationships (i.e., competition, predation, herbivory, mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism). Thus, by adopting ideas from biology, this engineer can open his design to many creative opportunities.
In brief, this book expresses complex ideas related to holistic and interdisciplinary learning in a concise and easy-to-grasp manner with many examples and graphics. As a result, the book opens new perspectives and provides practical guidance to engineers and scholars wishing to implement systems science concepts.
1.1.2 The Overall Structure of the Book
Figure 1.1 depicts the book’s overall structure, consisting of the front matter, the main book’s body, and the back matter.
Figure 1.1 Overall structure of the book.
1.1.3 The Structure of the Book’s Main Body
Figure 1.2 depicts the structure of the main body of the book. It is divided into four parts as follows:
Part 1: Facets of Systems Science and Engineering
Part 2: Holistic Systems Design
Part 3: Global Environment and Energy: Crisis and Action Plan
Part 4: More Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars
Figure 1.2 Structure of the book’s main body.
1.1.3.1 Part 1: Facets of Systems Science and Engineering
Chapter 1: Introduction to Systems Science. This chapter provides a preface to the book, followed by a discussion of humanity’s challenges. It then briefly encapsulates systems science and describes early systems pioneers. Finally, this chapter presents some criticisms of systems science and relevant responses.
Chapter 2: Principles of Systems Science (Part I). This chapter and the next one define the 10 fundamental systems science principles. For clarity, these principles are presented in two chapters. This chapter describes the following principles: (1) universal context, (2) boundary, (3) hierarchy, (4) interactions, and (5) change. Numerous examples describe each principle.
Chapter 3: Principles of Systems Science (Part II). This chapter describes the following principles: (6) input/output, (7) complexity, (8) control, (9) evolution, and (10) emergence. Again, numerous examples describe each principle.
Chapter 4: Systems Thinking. This chapter discusses the fundamental concepts of systems thinking and the iceberg model of systems thinking. It then explores systems thinking as a system in its own right. Finally, the chapter elaborates on various barriers to systems thinking and describes early systems thinking pioneers.
Chapter 5: Systems Engineering. This chapter brings forth illuminating ideas on the philosophy of engineering. It then describes systems engineering concepts, culminating in systems engineering deficiencies, systems’ pathologies, and infamous engineered systems failures and disasters.
Chapter 6: Comparative Analysis - Two Domains. This chapter presents a comparative analysis of biological versus engineered systems. The analysis emanates from one of systems science’s promises to transcend disciplines by obtaining knowledge about less-known domains utilizing analogies from well-known domains.
1.1.3.2 Part 2: Holistic Systems Design
Chapter 7: Holistic Systems Context. This chapter provides a holistic description of the systems context, which is, by definition, the environment of a system of interest (SoI). A more holistic view of systems contexts recognizes that the broad environment of SOIs has myriad and settled influences over SOIs. Many spectacular engineering failures can be traced to systems whose designers ignored such consequences. Thus, this chapter covers renewed thinking about the systems context and its components.
Chapter 8: Example: UAV System of Interest (SoI). This chapter and the following two chapters elucidate the concept of holistic systems contexts. This chapter provides a compressive example of an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system of interest (SoI). The UAV description focuses on the 10 systems science fundamental principles: universal context, boundary, hierarchy, interactions, change, input/output, complexity, control, evolution, and emergence.
Chapter 9: Example: UAV Context (Part I). This chapter illuminates the holistic nature of SoI context issues through the UAV system described earlier. Specific topics related to the UAV systems context are presented in two chapters. First, this chapter describes the following UAV system contexts: (1) natural systems, (2) social systems, (3) research systems, (4) formation systems, (5) sustainment systems, (6) business systems, and (7) commercial systems.
Chapter 10: Example: UAV Context (Part II). This chapter continues to illuminate the holistic nature of SoI context issues through the UAV system described earlier. This chapter describes the following UAV system contexts: (8) financial systems, (9) political systems, (10) legal systems, (11) cultural systems, and (12) biosphere systems.
1.1.3.1 Part 3: Global Environment and Energy: Crisis and Action Plan
Chapter 11: Global Environment Crisis. Nowadays, humanity faces many global predicaments. One of the most challenging, systemic global issues is the environmental crisis. This chapter describes and systemically analyzes it. This analysis includes past and present global transformation and the crisis’ environmental predicament.
Chapter 12: Systemic Environment Action Plan. Currently, little is being done about the environmental problem. However, this indifferent attitude will change drastically as life on this planet becomes more and more unbearable for more and more people. Then governments, environmental scientists, engineers, and the public will unite in carrying out measures to combat global environmental threats to the human species. This chapter provides a systemic action plan for this massive ecological threat to humankind. This plan includes sustaining the Earth’s system and sustaining human society.
Chapter 13: Global Energy Crisis. As mentioned before, humanity faces many global predicaments. The second most challenging systemic global issue is the global energy crisis. This chapter describes and systemically analyzes the global energy crisis. This description includes the current global energy status, energy return on investment (EROI), and the effect of renewable energy systems.
Chapter 14: Systemic Energy Action Plan. This chapter provides a systemic action plan for the global energy crisis. This description includes a discussion regarding the global energy dilemma and what can be done about renewable energy, fossil energy, and fission reaction energy. In addition, the chapter describes short-term future energy, including small modular reactors (SMR), and long-term future energy, including nuclear fusion.
1.1.3.2 Part 4: More Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars
Chapter 15: Engineering and Systemic Psychology. This chapter provides systemic links between key psychological features in systems engineering. In particular, it describes schema theory and cognitive biases, which sometimes lead to failed design, building, or systems operations. This linkage is illustrated by several spectacular systems failures, including the Bay of Pigs fiasco (1961), the disastrous 747 collision at Tenerife (1977), the space shuttle Columbia disaster (2003), BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010), and the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa (2018). The chapter then covers ways to undertake cognitive debiasing.
Chapter 16: Delivering Value and Resolving Conflicts. Systems must sustain their ability to deliver value to stakeholders throughout their life. Therefore, delivering systems value requires identifying those things that enhance value to all stakeholders. Likewise, conflicts among developers and builders of systems and their resolutions have been the subjects of many studies and other research. This chapter systematically analyzes two related topics: (1) delivering systems value and (2) conflict analysis and resolution.
Chapter 17: Multi-objective, Multi-agent Decision-Making. Multi-objective, multi-agent (MOMA) decision-making aims to optimize the policies of individual stakeholders concerning multiple objectives within the multistakeholder environment. These decisions should consider the possible trade-offs between conflicting objective functions and stakeholders’ desires. The chapter includes the following issues: (1) multi-objective multi-agents, (2) representation of systems activities, (3) key types of systems activities, and (4) three illustrative examples.
Chapter 18: Systems Engineering Using Category Theory. Systems engineers own systems components’ conceptual, logical, and physical integration throughout engineered projects. Therefore, adopting a collaborative mindset is crucial because integration occurs first and foremost among people and only afterward among systems and technologies. This chapter describes systems engineering using category theory. It includes the following elements: (1) defining the problem, (2) brief background on category theory and systems engineering, (3) an example of designing an electric vehicle, (4) category theory as a systems specification language, (5) categorical multidisciplinary collaborative design, and (6) the categorical design processes.
Chapter 19: Holistic Risk Management Using SOSF Methodology. The predominant worldview on risk management in current engineering practice is that system failure risks should be addressed during the design phase. However, such an approach excludes proactive handling of emerging risks throughout the systems’ life, leading to repeated failures. This chapter uses a systems of systems failures (SOSF) methodology to describe systemic risk management. It includes the following elements: (1) limitations of current risk management practices, (2) features of SOSF, (3) an example of holistic risk management and failure classes, and (4) an example of a synthetic SOSF risk management.
Chapter 20: Systemic Accidents and Mishaps Analyses. This chapter describes different accident causation models, which explain how accidents happen. Based on systems theory, one systemic accident model that reflects the current complex sociotechnical environment is the systems-theoretic accident model and processes (STAMP). The chapter explains the systemic nature of the STAMP accidents and mishaps model. It includes the following elements: (1) basic accident and mishap concepts; (2) classification of accident causation models; (3) the STAMP model, sociotechnical failure mechanisms, and procedures; and (4) causal analysis system theory (CAST) procedures and an example of CAST analysis involving the collision of two CH-53 helicopters.
1.1.4 Disclaimer
The author seeks to acquaint engineers, systems engineers, and other scholars with reasonably acceptable facets of systems science. To achieve this objective, the author drew on his engineering experience; communicated with many people; and synthesized information from many sources, including books, articles, blogs, and the like (giving credit where credit is due). In addition, a bibliography is placed at the end of each chapter covering invaluable sources for a deeper understanding of the various issues discussed in this book. The author gained much knowledge from these resources and is indebted to the individuals, researchers, and experts who created them. Readers should note that the sources of all third-party images and texts, as well as permissions to use them, are provided in Appendix C: Permissions to Use Third-Party Copyright Material.
1.2 Critical Humanity Challenge
According to Rousseau et al. (2016), the founders of general systems theory (systems science today) were mainly concerned with the far-reaching risks to human civilization of the proliferation of nuclear weapons along with looming environmental issues. In addition, they were worried about losing meaning, value, and purpose in human lives. They maintained that science and philosophy relied unrealistically on simplistic models of reductionism and proposed that a new systems theory would provide a more appropriate and enabling paradigm. Sadly, the approach has made little progress, and human existential problems are more significant than ever.
Nevertheless, many scientists believe systems science methodology offers the best-coordinated opportunity to deal with intractable problems. One such issue relates to the global environmental challenge, which, if left unchecked, threatens the existence of humanity in the not-too-distant future.
In their groundbreaking paper “A Safe Operating Space for Humanity,”2 published in 2009, some 30 eminent European, American, and Australian researchers tried to identify and quantify nine planetary boundaries that should not be crossed to prevent unacceptable environmental change.
These nine planetary biophysical boundaries are (1) climate change, (2) ocean acidification, (3) stratospheric ozone depletion, (4) biogeochemical flows, (5) global freshwater use, (6) deforestation and other land use changes, (7) biodiversity loss, (8) atmospheric aerosol loading, and (9) chemical pollution.
According to the authors, as of 2009, three of these nine planetary biophysical boundaries had already been breached: (1) climate change, (2) rate of biodiversity loss, and (3) changes to the global nitrogen cycle. These findings could induce disastrous consequences for humanity.
Figure 1.3 depicts the model proposed by the study on a safe operating space for humanity. The inner circle represents a safe operating space for nine planetary systems, and the red wedges represent an estimate of the year 2009 position for each variable.
Figure 1.3 Safe operating space for humanity (Rockstrom et al., 2009).
These critical problems require the concerted efforts of governments throughout the world. From a scientific standpoint, systems scientists could provide essential inputs to resolve or mitigate these significant problems. An updated research, “Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries” (Richardson et al., 2023), was released recently, indicating a significant deterioration in the current earth’s environmental conditions. A description of this new research is discussed in Chapter 11.
1.3 Systems Science in Brief
1.3.1 About Science
According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization),3 science is the most significant collective human endeavor. “It contributes to ensuring longer and healthier life, monitors our health, provides
